The Olympics, currently underway in Paris, France, brings extraordinary athletes from around the world together to compete at the highest level of sport performance, each hoping to win a medal signifying that they are the best in the world. As legalization grows, cannabis (both CBD and THC) has become more commonplace in amateur and professional sports for its recovery and mental health benefits. But can athletes use cannabis in the Olympics?
Up until 2017 all forms of cannabis (CBD and THC) were considered banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the governing body who ensures fairness by regulating performance enhancing drugs. From the WADA’s inception in 1999 to 2017, it was considered a banned substance even as it gained mainstream popularity particularly for nonintoxicating exercise recovery.
In 2017, the WADA removed CBD from its list of banned substances. However, THC remains on the list because they believe it meets the 3 criteria (banned substances must meet at least 2 of the three criteria):
- It has the potential to enhance sport performance
- It represents a health risk to the athlete
- It violates the spirit of the sport
The 2021 games were the first to feature cannabis in the form of CBD as athletes like US Women’s Soccer Champion Megan Repinoe touted its benefits.
At The 2024 Olympic games, athletes are still only allowed to use CBD, the non intoxicating form of cannabis. However, as legalization spreads worldwide, this is bound to fall under controversy because none of the three criteria for prohibition are proven.
In fact, a recent study out of the University of Colorado Boulder showed that it does not improve performance times or accuracy, but makes exercise feel easier. Cannabis experts are eager for more research to prove that it does not pose any health risk to athletes as well as case studies and data to show that THC does not violate the spirit of any sport.
The US Anti-doping Agency agrees. CEO Travis Tygart tells Yahoo Sports he believes athletes shouldn’t face punishment for testing positive for marijuana unless it proved to provide a competitive advantage or created a health and safety risk.
Yet, In 2021 Sha’Carri Richardson was disqualified and suspended after testing positive for THC during her journey to the Olympics. Reportedly she was using it for mental health- to keep her focused in the wake of losing her biological mother.
Tygart told Yahoo Sports: “It’s disappointing, I think we should all just be open and upfront about marijuanas lack of performance-enhancing benefits. We’re not in the recreational drug policing business. We’re here to prevent fraud in sport and cheaters in sport.”
While THC is intoxicating, many people find it helpful for managing stress, anxiety, pain and sleep- symptoms that affect performance but not in an unfair way.
CBD IN THE OLYMPICS
CBD, on the other hand, is popular among athletes for recovery, pain management, sleep and mental health.
Megan Rapinoe told Forbes, “CBD has become part of my all-natural recovery system that I use throughout the day to help with pain and inflammation, stabilize my mood and get better sleep. (…) I use them right after training, pop in a gummy, or gel capsule for pain and to calm me down, then another gummy in the afternoon to relax, then the night tincture right before bed for better sleep. It’s truly part of my entire day.”
Professional athletes are commonly prescribed powerful drugs – everything from advil to opiates – for inflammation and pain endured during rigorous training. But athletes like Megan Rapinoe are embracing a more natural approach, “Instead of taking Advil or other pain management meds, I‘veI almost exclusively substituted with Mendi CBD products, “ she claims to Forbes.
This year, at the 2024 games in Paris, athletes are using their CBD for recovery – systemically and localized through balms and creams. CBD speeds healing with anti inflammatory properties and reduces recovery time.
Professional athletes know that sleep is a critical aspect of recovery and use CBD to enhance sleep where their bodies can efficiently and effectively recover from intense training demands.
Additionally, CBD supports mental health by helping athletes persevere during the challenging lifestyle of olympic level training.
Thankfully, athletes are able to continue their CBD regimes without conflict ensuring their best performance from a natural standpoint, not one of unfairness or that poses a health risk.
What’s evident is the need for further research in this area to prove how safe THC is as well for athletes who choose to utilize it. As countries like the US consider its legality, this hope should soon become reality, plausibly in time for the 2026 or 2028 Olympic Games.
If you’re interested in more personalized information about cannabis and exercise want to explore this topic further, feel free to reach out to me directly at Beth@Cannafitnessnutrition.com.
You can discover more about my comprehensive 12 week program, CannaFit, which helps you integrate cannabis as a tool into your fitness and nutrition to overcome obstacles such as stress or emotional eating at www.cannafitnessnutrition.com.
